Source: Parliament pushes for completion of Senga civil servants’ housing project – herald
Freedom Mupanedemo
Midlands Bureau
THE Government has been urged to fast-track the completion of the Senga Messengers’ Camp flats, with Parliament saying the affordable housing project will bring much-needed relief to civil servants struggling with accommodation costs.
The project, located about 5 km from Gweru’s Central Business District, is 40 percent complete and requires an additional US$2,7 million to be finished.
The entire scheme is expected to cost US$4,5 million. The four blocks of four-storey flats are intended to accommodate between 64 and 80 families and are being spearheaded by the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities under Minister Daniel Garwe.
Once completed, the Senga Messengers’ Camp flats are expected to provide affordable rental accommodation for civil servants, with proceeds earmarked for maintenance and future housing projects.
The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on Monday toured the site to assess progress.
The visit revealed a stalled project, with the site overgrown and no construction activity taking place.
Only four unfinished blocks stood on the ground. Construction of the flats started in February 2022, and they were expected to be completed within seven months, by September 2022.
However, the project has faced several delays and contractor impasses. Director of Construction and Maintenance in the Ministry, Mr Gede Gwenhure, said poor soil conditions had forced additional expenditure on foundations.
“The soils here were not strong, so the money went towards the special foundation,” Mr Gwenhure said during the tour. “We are procuring materials for the next stage. We have bricks and three-quarter stones.”
He attributed slow progress to budget constraints and a Government prioritisation policy.
“In terms of the budget, we have not been able to complete. It’s about the spirit of prioritisation — do what is about to be completed,” he said.
Marondera project is first before this one. Marondera is 80 percent complete, so it’s not on the priority list this year. From Marondera we come here because of the stage we are at,” he said.
Despite the delays, Mr Gwenhure said the ministry was banking on a rental model to make the scheme self-sustaining.
“These will be for rentals and Government will make money. At the end of the day our project should generate income,” he said.
“We are targeting seven blocks in due course. These houses will be cheap for civil servants. A four-roomed house will be going for at least US$100. It can be a stop order and the occupant will have peace of mind.”
He said the flats were a critical intervention to grow the country’s housing stock for civil servants and vulnerable households. Yes, we have issues to do with maintenance, but we can plough back the money.”
Leading the oversight visit, Committee chairperson Dr Maxmore Njanji said Parliament would engage the Ministry of Finance to ensure funds are released.
“We are here for an oversight visit, accompanied by members from our committee,” Dr Njanji said.
“We commend the government for working on providing cheap and affordable houses. We want our people to have places to stay.”
He said the exercise was in fulfilment of Parliament’s constitutional mandate to hold state institutions accountable.
“This is a nationwide exercise. We are going across the country. We will engage the Ministry of Finance so that this project is completed in time. This is a commendable project that is being implemented by the Government,” Dr Njanji said.
Committee member Donald Mavhudzi said funding remained the biggest obstacle. “The challenge is finance. There is not enough finance to complete this project,” he said.
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